Tube conformer for tube weaving looms



Aug. 22, 1944. R. ORGASS 2,356,343

TUBE CONFORMER FOR TUBE WEAVING LOOMS Filed Oct. 28, 1945 PATH OF SHU7-7-42:

THROUGH FRONT REED TO THE HEOOL E5 BREAST PIECE OF LOOM INVENTOR. RUDOLPH 086 H65 flTTOR/VEY Patented Aug. 22, 1944 TUBE CONFORMER FOR TUBEWEAVING LOOMS Rudolph Orgass, College Point, Long Island, N. Y.,assignor to Nalven & Son, Inc., Bronx, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication October 28, 1943, Serial No. 507,919

Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in looms to facilitatetheir use in the weaving of textile tubing and to a novel method ofweaving such tubes. 7

In weaving textile tubing in a loo-m, the tube is generally woven fiatand the upper and lower parts of the tube are woven, in the main,independently of one another by the passage of the shuttle Carrying thefiller threads through the respective shed portions of these parts, theresulting upper and lower walls of the tubing being joined together atthe sides or lateral edges of the tubing as the weaving proceeds.

In a tube weaving loom the Warp threads extend forwardly from theheddles, through the front reed to the point of weaving to form theshed, and from this point the woven tube extends forwardly to and overthe front bar of the loom. In order that the Weaving may be properlycarried on, both the shed and tube must be maintained under considerablelongitudinal tension. This tension has been the cause of considerabledifficulty for, when the shed is progressively changed, as the weavinproceeds, the marked divergence of the warp threads thereof has apronounced tendency to separate or pull apart the upper and lowerportions of the tube at the lateral edges where they should be tightlyjoined to one another. This results in loosely woven edges and defectivetubmg.

The only practical way heretofore known to overcome this difficulty isto place suficiently great tension on the filler threads to offset thedivergent separating tendency of the threads of the shed. But fillerthreads often do not possess the tensile strength of the warp threadsand, even if they do, the strain thus placed upon them frequentlyresults in breakage thereof, necessitating stoppage of the loom forretieing. Moreover, great tension on fillerthreads requires acorresponding expenditure of power in the operation of the shuttle withaccompanying increased wear over that which would result if lessertension were used. Notwithstanding all this, experience has. shown thatno matter how much tension is placed on the filler threads, absolutelyuniform weaving is practically out of question by following thisprocedure, and loose weaving at the edges of the tubing is all toocommon in production operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide satisfactory means ofassuring uniform weaving throughout the circumference of the tube and atthe same time permit of materially decreased tension on the fillerthreads.

I am able to accomplish this result by the utilization of a novel devicewhich I term a conformer. This novel conformer is so constituted as toengage With the tube immediately adjacent or in closely spaced relationto the end of the tube as it is being woven, being provided with aconstricted opening adapted to embrace the tube at this point. The sizeof this opening is preferably substantially equal to the exterior crosssection of the finished tube in the flattened condition. The constrictedopening is so mounted as to maintain the position to which I havereferred and as the tube is woven the progressively woven portion of thetube passes through the constriction to the front bar and thence aroundappropriate directional rollers for maintaining the required tension onthe tube and sheds.

While the invention may partake of various forms and be mounted ondifferent parts of the loom, I have found it convenient to make theconformer of spring steel wire of a gauge appropriate to the size of thetube to be operated upon. The constriction through which the tube is fedand which serves to conform the tube, is preferably made in the form ofa loop bent from such wire. From one side of the loop the wire isextended to form a supporting bracket provided at its free end with aneye through which a tack, screw or other appropriate means may be passedto mount the device upon the breast piece of the loom. For the bestresults, the loop should be made to substantially conform to the crosssectional shape and dimension of the finished fiat tube and it should beso constructed that it can be readily opened and closed, as will behereinafter more fully described, to permit it to be engaged anddisengaged with the tube during the renewal of warp threads or for otherreasons.

The conformer of this invention has many advantages in the weaving offabric tubes. By holding the upper and lower portions of the tubeagainst spreading at the weaving point, it positively assures properbinding of the warp threads by the filler threads at the lateral edgesof the tube as the weaving proceeds. It does this in a positivemechanical fashion and by so doing obviates the necessity of weaving thefiller threads under high tension as was heretofore necessary. In fact Ihave found it possible to reduce the tension on the filler threads asmuch as 50-75% of that heretofore considered absolutely essential todraw the upper and lower portions of the shed together according toprior procedure. The material lessening of the tension on the fillerthreads also correspondingly lessens the Wear and tear on the shuttles,blocks, pinion wheels and racks of the batten. Furthermore, the loweringof the tension brings about a corresponding saving in power for theoperation of the shuttles.

From the method aspect, the present invention comprises passing ashuttle alternately through a shed which is changed with each passage ofthe shuttle to weave a tube, and confining the woven tube directlyadjacent the path of travel of the shuttle to preclude spreading of theedges of the tube due to divergent pull of the shed threads.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical embodiment of theinvention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood asillustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective fragmental view showing certain conventionalportions of a loom in the process of weaving a tube in fiat conditionand s with which loom parts and tube a tube conformer embodying thepresent invention is associated.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the conformer removed from the loom.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of such conformer.

Figure 4 is an end elevation as viewed from the loop end thereof.

In the drawing, I designates the breast piece of the loom and 2 thefront bar. The shed embodies the usual warp threads 3 which extend fromconventional heddles through a front reed (not shown) forwardly to thepoint of weaving and from this point the woven tube 4 extends forwardlyover the front bar 2 and thence downwardly to the usual directionalrolls of the loom. A shuttle passes transversely through the shedalternately in opposite directions along the path of travel indicated inthe drawing to interweave the filler thread with the warp threads of theshed, which are periodically shifted by the heddles to effect thedesired weave.

All of these parts, as well as the operation thus far described, areabsolutely conventional and well known in the art, being referred tohere merely to show the use of the present invention as an accessorythereof.

The conformer of the present invention embodies primarily a conformingloop 5 with appropriate means 6 to support such loop in a positiondirectly adjacent the point of weaving, which is directly adjacent thepath of the shuttle through the shed.

In the form of the invention shown, the device is made entirely from asingle piece of spring steel wire. A portion of the wire is bent to formthe tube conforming loop 5 and at one end of the loop the wire is bentto extend in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the loop,to constitute a supporting bracket 6 extending forwardly to the breastpiece I to which it is secured in any appropriate manner. As here shown,the wire of the bracket 6 is provided at its forward end with an eye Iand a tack or screw 8 is passed through the eye and driven into thebreast piece I. This need not be, and preferably is not a rigidattachment, for the function of the bracket 6 is primarily that of aspacer, serving to hold the loop 5 in a transverse plane in which itembraces the tube 4 directly adjacent the weaving point.

The upper portion of the loop is provided at one end with a hook shapedcatch 9 adapted to normally engage with the lower portion of the loopadjacent the bracket 6 in order to hold the loop in closed condition toembrace the tube, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This hook shapedcatch may, however, be manually disengaged when desired and the inherentspringy character of the wire will then cause it to spring open into thedotted line position of Figs. 1 and 4, so that the loop may bedisengaged from the tube. When thus disengaged the accessory may bebodily swung about the axis of the tack 8, so that it will be out of theway.

One essential feature of the present invention has to do with thedimensions of the loop and particularly its vertical dimension. Thisdimension must be substantially equal to the corresponding externaldimension of the tube operated upon, so that the upper and lower reachesof the loop will respectively form abutments 5a and 5b which confine thetube in a vertical direction. There may be slight clearance withoutobjection, but since it is the function of the loop to preclude thedrawing of the upper and lower portions of the tube apart at the lateraledges thereof, it is absolutely necessary that these abutments confineth corresponding portions of the tube against such a condition.

The horizontal dimension of the loop is not so important for even thoughthe loop is somewhat longer than the width of the tube, no seriouscondition will result because the front reed maintains the warp threadsof the shed in substantially parallel vertical planes and there is noappreciable tendency of these threads to diverge at the weaving point.In practice, however, I preferably make the length of the tubesubstantially the same as the width of the tube with slight clearance.The loop should extend transversely of the tube, preferably as close tothe path of the shuttle as not to interfere with the operations of thelatter, although if slightly back from the closest possible position, itwill operate satisfactorily, the test being the ability of the loop toproperly confine the edges of the upper and lower portions of the tubeagainst such spreading as will result in loose weaving.

The conformer shown in the drawing is adapted to efilciently carry outthe method of this invention for this apparatus will confine the woventube directly adjacent the path of travel of the shuttle in such amanner as to preclude the spreading of the edges of the tube due to thedivergent pull of the warp threads of the shed. The structure which Ihave chosen for illustration is especially efficient for it not onlyfulfills this purpose, but it does so without placing undue wear uponthe tube. Tubes woven according to this invention have a uniform widthand weaving impossible of attainment under prior practice.

In practically carrying out the invention, one of my conformers isemployed in conjunction with the weaving of each tube of a multiple tubeweaving loom, so that in a loom weaving 20 tubes, 20 conformers would beemployed.

In the foregoing detailed description I have specifically referred tothe conformer as supported on the breast piece. However, I am aware thatit may be mounted on other parts of the loom without departing from theinvention or a separate supporting bar might be added to the loom toserve as a support for the conforming loops of this invention. For thereasons given, the present invention is to be understood as not limitedto the specific structure shown but as fully commensurate with theappended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tube weaving loom wherein the warp threads extend from heddlesthrough a front reed to a weaving point where a fiat tube is woven bythe passage of a shuttle through the shed, and means is provided formaintaining the threads of the shed and the Woven tube underlongitudinal tension; the combination with these parts of an elongatedloop embracin the woven tube in a position directly adjacent the path ofthe shuttle and extending transversely of the tube with the longitudinalreaches of the loop spaced apart a distance substantially equal to thecorresponding dimension of the flat tube to preclude the spreading apartof flat sides of the tube due to diverging tension of the warp threadsof the shed, and means for maintaining the loop in said position as theweaving proceeds, said loop embodying a catch whereby the loop may beopened to permit it to be engaged with or disengaged from the tube.

2. In a tube weaving 100m wherein the warp threads extend from heddlesthrough a front reed to a weaving point where a flat tube is woven bythe passage of a shuttle through the shed, and means is provided formaintaining the threads of the shed and the woven tube underlongitudinal tension; the combination with these parts of a length ofwire, one end of which is attached to a rigid part of the loom with thewire extending from such point of attachment to a point adjacent thepath of the shuttle and there bent into an elongated loop transverselyembracing the tube with the elongated reaches of the loop straddling thetube and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to thecorresponding dimension of the tube, the end of the portion of the wirewhich forms one elongated reach of the loop having a hook shaped catchto engage with that portion of the wire which forms the other elongatedreach of the loop to permit of the opening and closing of the loop toengage or disengage it from the tube.

3. A conformer for flat tube weaving looms comprising; a bracketprovided at one end with an attaching member and having at its other endan elongated loop of a length at least equal to the width of the flattube with which it is adapted for use and of a width approximately equalto the thickness of such tube, said loop embodying a catch to permit ofthe opening and closing of the loop.

4'. A conformer for fiat tube weaving looms comprising; a bracketprovided at one end with an attaching member and having at its other endentirety of a single piece of wire.

5. A conformer for flat tube weaving looms comprising; a bracketprovided at one end with an attaching member and having at its other endan elongated loop of a length at least equal to the width of the flattube with which it is adapted for use and of a width approximately equalto the thickness of such tube, said loop having at one end of one of itslonger sides a hooked catch adapted to detachably engage its otherlonger side, and said conformer consisting in its entirety of a singlepiece of wire.

RUDOLPH ORGASS.

